Do Bamboo Shrimps Eat Algae & Clean Tank?

Bamboo Shrimp are known to be an omnivore, yet they won’t eat everything inside your water tank! For instance, some people think they’re fond of taking all the nooks and crannies on the bottom for being “bottom feeders.” Now, a question may pop up in your mind – Do Bamboo Shrimps eat algae & clean tank? 

Bamboo Shrimps love to eat soft green algae as it loads some of the essential nutrients, like vegetable matters, adequate amounts of carbs, and protein. Furthermore, they filter out the leftover food, small organic particles, and floating substances to keep your tank clean. 

Also, keep noted that every type of algae isn’t an ideal meal for your Bamboo Shrimp because some are known to be very toxic. So here, I’ll let you know what type of algae is harmful, the way of eliminating such types, and many more!

Can Bamboo Shrimps Eat Algae & Clean Tank?

Bamboo Shrimp tend to eat leftover fish food, including soft green algae, food pellets, and microalgae. They are also known to be “tiny tank cleaners,” as bamboo shrimps eat every particle of food to get the tank of your water as clean as possible.

For me, it’s an extra effort to take off the algae from the aquarium. But that won’t be needed at all if there is only a single bamboo shrimp in your tank! It considers algae as one of its natural food sources. And yes, algae is a good source of carbs, proteins, and some fatty acids, which will ensure better growth of your bamboo shrimp.

The point to be noted – algae make up the half diet of your bamboo shrimp. As a result, you must pay attention to keeping your mature shrimp in the tank where a sufficient amount of algae is noticeable. 

What Type of Algae Is Harmful to Bamboo Shrimp?

Among different types of algae, hair algae are known to be harmful substances to aquariums or water tanks. One of the worst natures I’ve noticed about it is that they entirely cover up the plant inside of your tank, which eventually impacts the growth.

Another problem occurs when they die. Ultimately, it causes ammonia rises that are extremely toxic to your bamboo shrimp and other fishes. As a result, if bamboo shrimp eat hair algae, it’s very common to end up with severe diseases and complications.

And let me tell you the most basic issue with hair algae is that they can dramatically turn the water cloudy and dirty too soon than usual. 

How to Eliminate Toxic Algae from My Bamboo Shrimp Tank?

Getting rid of hair algae or such toxic substances is a better way to keep your Bamboo Shrimp safe from diseases. For this, I’d suggest casting those plant parts away from the tank, which has got extremely affected.

But if you notice the plants are noticeable with minor amounts of hair algae, then feel free to remove it in a manual way using a piece of toothbrush. In fact, it plays a significant role in reaching stubborn areas to eliminate toxic algae.

In case you notice too much hair algae in your water tank, ensure to take suggestions from experts to adjust the level of phosphate and nitrate. If I talk about myself, then I’d always like to use a one-time Co2 injection every night for around three to five days at a go. For 25 gallons, 20 ml will be more than enough to get rid of toxic algae once and for all.

How Often Should I Clean My Bamboo Shrimp Tank?

You should clean your tank at least once every two weeks, even though bamboo shrimps are liable to clean up your aquarium by eliminating soft algae and other food residues. Don’t make the mistake of giving the whole responsibility of cleaning your tank to those tiny species!

Rather, clean up the water yourself as they get cloudy and dirty after a certain period. That’s what I do as well.

How Does Bamboo Shrimp Eat Their Food?

Generally, Bamboo shrimp take their desired food from the water column. Indeed, they are known for filtering uneaten bites of fish food, floating substances, leftover food, and mostly algae free from toxicity. In the majority of cases, you’ll find them either on the tank’s bottom or the plant’s top while taking their meals.

During the feeding process, bamboo shrimps appear to be pretty much efficient. And yes, they mostly stay quite attentive and calm in one particular position when extra food is offered by someone, like small bites of fish food and algae wafers.

What Should I Feed My Bamboo Shrimp?

You shouldn’t worry about feeding extra food to your bamboo shrimp as it itself is able to filter its own desired food. Ask how? Well, since the species is commonly familiar as “filter feeders,” this simply means you’ll find it eating algae, leftover fish food, plant leaves, and tiny organic substances all by itself.

As a result, there is no need to break your sweat in terms of feeding additional food to the species. That said, some aquarists love to offer zucchini slices in order to add a healthy meal to their Bamboo Shrimp diet. It really comes down to your personal preferences because there is no strict rule on offering additional food. 

Frequently Asked Questions  

Q. Do Bamboo Shrimp eat algae wafers?

Bamboo Shrimps happily take algae wafers as one of their favorite food items. Basically, algae wafers contain a specific level of veggie matter, including adequate amounts of protein and carbs to make them rich in nutrients.

Q. Can I feed copepods to my Bamboo Shrimp?

You can feed copepods to your Bamboo Shrimp without thinking twice as they are completely harmless. For your shrimp, it’s a lovely food to eat and a cinch to catch them instantly. Moreover, copepods offer plentiful nutrients to the species.

Q. Do Bamboo Shrimp eat fish poop?

In your freshwater tank, Bamboo Shrimps won’t take fish poop as their meal. Why? Because this is completely free from nutrients and won’t assist in the overall growth of your shrimp.

Final Words

Have you gone through the entire write-up of do bamboo shrimps eat algae & clean water? If so, then you better know the reason why it loves to eat algae, how it cleans up your tank, and how it takes its food. Except for the toxic “hair algae” I talked about above, you can feed soft green algae because it loads essential nutrients required for your species’ growth!